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Indonesia’s ‘determined’ Joko Widodo holds first cabinet meeting in future capital

  • The US$32-billion Nusantara project was widely expected to be inaugurated on August 17 but delays and funding woes have cast doubt

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Indonesian President Joko Widodo (middle with crossed arms), accompanied by his Vice-President Maruf Amin (left) and president-elect and Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto (2-R), talks to journalists before their first cabinet meeting in Nusantara. Photo: EPA-EFE
Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Monday held his first cabinet meeting in the country’s future capital, despite much of the city remaining under construction as it runs late.
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The US$32-billion megaproject Nusantara was widely expected to be inaugurated on August 17, Indonesia’s Independence Day, but building delays and funding woes have cast doubt on the schedule.

Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, still hailed the city-in-progress, which is expected to be fully ready in 2045.

“Not all countries have the opportunity, have the ability to build their capital starting from zero,” he said.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (middle left) accompanied by Vice-President Maruf Amin (middle right) attend the first cabinet meeting at the future presidential palace in the new capital of Nusantara. Photo: EPA-EFE
Indonesian President Joko Widodo (middle left) accompanied by Vice-President Maruf Amin (middle right) attend the first cabinet meeting at the future presidential palace in the new capital of Nusantara. Photo: EPA-EFE

According to Jokowi, the city is “being built with the concept of a forest city, a jungle city, a city full of green” in eastern Borneo island.

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